Saturday, May 9, 2009

We, poppi's extened family (minus Sherill - ☹), caravan'ed it down to Goochland Virginia to go to the Elizabeth Kates Day Plant Sale at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women. We lovingly refer to it as Prison Day.

The trip:we left my house at 10am and then stopped in at the Torpedo Factory to pick up the Virginapoppigirls and Suzanne (an amazing woman who works at the Art League School with Tiffany) and my friends Tracey and Wifey. Anyway, we loaded into two cars and a borrowed van from the Art League and scooted off down 95 towards Richmond.Stopped off to get some food and gas around fredricksburg. Here is a shot of the Art League's van with a plastic bag caught in its back tire. the gas station equivalent of have TP on your shoe... Aww..Art League Van.... why you gotta embarrass us like that?Like I said, we stopped for lunch...and then went to Prison. Now, "prison" conjures up a certain image. The VCCW is not like that AT ALL.No real "gate" per say, and not a lot of bars or fences or barbed wire. It looks like a college campus in a small town.

seriously, this is the prison.Anyway, cameras were not allowed, so no pictures of the crazy greenhouse or the incredible plant selection or of the annual membership dinner that followed, but, needless to say...it was great!here are some pictures of when we got back to unload /divide up the day's purchases...

here are some of the plants I bought -- I need to plant them tomorrow -if it doesn't rain...

do you believe that this fuchsia was only $7.50?!

About Elizabeth Kates Foundation:this is an organization that educates and mentors women in the Correctional System. They provide scholarships, work programs (horticultural and vocational) and support enabling women to really turn their lives around. Women who go through their program have ZERO percent of recidivism. CRAZY!!! they've been doing this since the 60's, I think. There is not a lot in information online about them - they are still stuck in the 60's. I think I need to donate a website to them. any body want to help? (I've got NO web skills). Will trade jewelry....just putting it out there

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria is having our annual Spring Open House. The whole building will have activities through out the day. A lot of the studios will be open and there will be munchies and libations all over the building. It is a perfect bookend to your mother's day outing. You can brunch in Old Town and then, wander around the Factory checking out the art. Or, you can start at the Factory and then finish the evening by taking Mom out to one of Alexandria's fine restaurants.

Stop by my studio, #226, and take 20% OFF of the signature poppi collection.This means that the discount cannot be applied to the Lucite pieces. I hope to see you then!

On Sunday -I started a Poppi Shop profile. I've have a poppi addicts group page and a poppi shop fan page on facebook for a while, but, for some reason, I could not tap the poppi audience. I mean, I had followers and fans, but I just felt that the poppigirl didn't know about either. Anyway, I started the page and then, sent out invites to all of the people who are signed up for my mailing list. I felt a little weird doing that- kind of SPAM-y, you know...anyway, it turned out to be the exact right thing to do. Within 48 hours Poppi Shop has 290+ friends and more accept my friend request everyday. It is pretty nuts. Thank you to everyone and let me know what you want to see - more action shots, more events, whatever - post it here or on facebook.